Employee Wellbeing Plan

An employee well-being plan is a programme implemented by an organisation to promote employee health and to assist individual employees in overcoming health-related, emotional, social, behavioural, and financial issues. Training, seminars, and even customised sessions might be provided by the employer.

Employees are vital assets to any organisation, and protecting their mental, physical, social, and financial wellness positions them for success. Employee health and well-being have a direct impact on productivity and hence a company's earnings. Many firms see this and are willing to invest in such initiatives.

 

Productivity and health are linked: 

Poor health practices are typically linked to a high rate of unproductivity and absenteeism and eventually lead to increased health risks and chronic illnesses. Empowering people to adopt healthy habits like eating healthy, exercising, and not smoking reduces health risks. Organisations with adequate wellness programmes have lower absences because their employees are healthier and have less stress, resulting in higher productivity and lower expenses.

 

Enhance staff retention

Healthy lifestyle initiatives will assist businesses in both hirings and retaining the finest staff. When it comes to choosing a job, many individuals are significantly affected by the availability of health care and other perks. Well-being initiatives also play an important part in retaining staff.

 

Team Connection

Some programmes allow workers to participate in non-work-related activities like joining sports activities or events, exercising at the gym, or having a meal altogether. Colleague engagement promotes connection, which helps team members perform at a higher level.

 

Enhancing employee morale 

Employees feel appreciated and valued when they participate in wellness initiatives. Employees are pleased when they perceive their bosses recognise and esteem them. The availability of well-being initiatives results in more motivated workers at work.

 

Meanings:

Employee wellness initiatives would address not just the employees' bodies but also their minds. Companies can also provide necessary help for concerns such as addictions, pressure, anxiousness, and feelings of hopelessness. Most work-related concerns can be treated through wellbeing planned programs. These programmes assist employees in obtaining a sense of security, so they can achieve to their full potential, increasing the company workers' trust and contentment.

 

The meaning of success

There is a misconception about the word Success! People picture a successful person with some features: Rich, famous, owner of a six zeros business, possessor of properties, expensive cars, jets and yachts. We, as a society, have this misunderstanding because western culture is mainly focused on money and material things. A person can be a successful parent in a happy family. A person can be a successful traveller, or just be happy! Success is the achievement of a goal! The goal a person set is different from all other people’s goals and it is unique. What block people from being successful is generally a duo:

• Lack of clarity in goal setting: clarity is the key! Having a clear picture of what is wanted allows a person to plan a strategy to accomplish the goal. If the path to success requires a big project, there is no need to worry, just break down that big project into smaller ones, keeping track of each little step.

• Lack of consistency: many people are used to having it all at once. This is another expectation set by the western culture: having things that we cannot afford and now! This may work for a TV or a phone but not for deeper objects. Important ambitions often require a mindset changing and being consistent is one of the key points. It is important to realise that we cannot expect the full result immediately, but things come little by little.

 

 

Balance is the key

Often, when in process of changing, people tend to be radical in their modifications, even extreme; resulting in generally overwhelmed feelings with a more difficult sense in keeping the path and less willingness to adapt towards the new. Balance is the key! It is important to do little steps and take the appropriate time. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" a quote by Laozi, in which we can learn that there are no big projects, but small ones put together; therefore, the approach makes the difference.

 

Action:

The Employee Wellbeing Plan is designed to promote, implement and keep running a different approach at work, in which people and their wellness come first. In a quiet, friendly and fair atmosphere, employees feel better, more engaged and consequently more productive. There are different aspects to be considered:

• Physical working environment: the employer must guarantee a location with natural light and fresh air. The equipment provided must be ergonomic and all working stations to be set with all necessary equipment.

• Working environment: it is important to set rules and procedures that aim to avoid conflicts. A friendly atmosphere comes naturally in a nice and fair place. Even while maintaining a professional approach, it is possible to have fun and make jokes.

• Understanding each other: everyone is different and the approach, understanding and acting processes may differ. Let others work at their best, in their own way is the key to success in a company.

• Presenteeism versus productivity: being present is not enough! Too often there are situations where people do not want to be at work, but they are there just for the sake of money! Vice versa, too often there are employers that do not consider employees as people but just an element of their money-making apparatus. Creating a friendly, funny and fair workplace can radically transform the working concept and boost productivity and performance.

• Healthy food: eating healthy is one of the most important aspects of life and one of those we can control. When a person is healthy, even the general psychological condition is better, fatigue is less and morale is high. It is easier to wake up early and maintain longer concentration during activities. From the employer side, promoting a healthy diet or a starting approach towards it will be considered a valuable investment for the company, with a long-term return in quality of work and productivity. If the company is lucky enough to have a canteen, a healthy menu can be applied, preferring vegetable and plant-based food and reducing fried and red meat food. Same with snacks, where fruits can substitute junk food.  Events like: Healthy cooking classes can be organised, having a double meaning: healthy food even at home and staff engagement with fun. Another idea can be to set a discount with a healthy food store nearby or online vouchers; many other ideas can come from people, and they are limitless.

• Healthy lifestyle: food is not all, Exercise is vital to maintain people's health. Even here there are infinite concepts that a company can implement like: gym discounts, cycle working schemes, longer breaks with gym sessions etc…

• A different HR approach: Understanding the employee's needs is the key and putting the person in touch with the proper expert is the solution. Not only physical and mental health to be considered, but also social and financial problems, addictions, and stress. Having contact with psychologists, financial advisors and other experts are fundamental to providing care to people. An employee with financial problems comes to work with a mental focus on those problems and how to solve them and it is fertile territory for mistakes, delays, and poor performance. An employee with the same problem, after seeing that the company can provide help and experts, feels better and safer, therefore their mental status returns to normal and stress-free.